Daily Devotionals

Bowen's Daily Meditations

Devotional: December 23rd

"Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord." - Isaiah 55:7.

The following reason is assigned, why he should forsake his ways and thoughts: - " For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Man will have it that his way, his designs, his plans, his theory of life, are better than those of God. God’s scheme of human life is published everywhere and brought before the notice of all; but all disdain it; they do not consider it any improvement upon their own. The way of righteousness, of self-denial, of faith, has no attraction for them.

But really the way that God has marked out for man is in every respect sublime and worthy of its author; and if man had walked therein he would have been angelic in dignity, wisdom, power and happiness. The intention of God regarding man includes his investiture with every grace and perfection. The thought of God is that man should set his affection on things above; take up his cross and follow Christ with all love and loyalty; and be, each one in his particular province, a benefactor to mankind. Alongside of this most elevated yet most suitable standard, how mean and groveling appear the actual ways of men, how base and earthly their thoughts. For so many thousands of years they have gone floundering on in the mad quest of happiness, obstinately seeking it where God has told them they shall find nothing but misery. The wonder is that God should invite them to return; that instead of leaving them to the fruits of their own choice he should provide for them a way whereby they may regain the highway of holiness.

-